Description

This case study outlines the evaluation of Juan Santa Maria International Airport (SJO) in Costa Rica, applying the infrastructure sustainability assessment methodology developed by the Zofnass Program at Harvard University. The evaluation was made using Envision Rating System for Sustainable Infrastructure, Version 2.01 as a framework.

The economy of Costa Rica relies heavily on tourism, agriculture, and electronic products. Both exports and distribution on the three aforementioned economic activities depend primarily on air transportation. SJO airport is located in Alajuela, approximately 20 kilometers from San José, the capital city of the county. Indicatively, in 2013 the airport handled on average over 100 daily flights and about three million passengers per year. According to the Inter‐American Development Bank (IDB), SJO revenue in 2007 was
US$ 50 million, representing an annual growth rate of approximately 8% since 2002.

Due to a continuously growing demand, the Government of Costa Rica (GoCR) requested the elaboration of a Master Plan in 1997. This document stated that the expansion of the airport was required. Since then, several improvements have been done within airport facilities. Considering the big investment required for the completion of the works, IDB started collaboration with the project’s sponsors in 2010, providing financial support for the phase II of the expansion.

The scope of this evaluation refers to the modernization and expansion plan of SJO airport, Phase II